Corn pad and the like



May 25, 1937. w. M. SCHOLL CORN PAD AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 11, 1953 2 W v m 4? i 0 4 J a I: W 1/ J J w 1 m m Q 6 fl I Patented May 25, 1937 UNlTE -2,0&l,715

PATENT OFFICE 3 Ciaims.

My invention relates to adhesive pads for use in treating corns, bunions, or other sensitive places on the human foot and shielding the affected area from the harmful effects of shoe pressure and of rubbing against the shoe; and more particularly it has to do with pads of the type made up'of superimposed layers of fabric stuck together by films of adhesive material, the top layer or upper section of the pad being imperforate and the subjacent layer or layers being cut away to form a shielding recess open to the under side of the pad.

The pads of this type, heretofore in general use, are made of substantially uniform thickness from end to end, have their periineters shaped symmetrically both lengthwise and crosswise with respect to the center of the pad, and have their shielding recesses centrally located. Used, as chiefly they are, on affected toe-joints, where the action of the foot in walking pushes forward and then retracts the affected joint with respect to the shoe in the course of every step, pads of the stated flat, symmetrical construction above referred to often fail from the outset to .give proper relief from shoe pressure in walking, and in pads that have multiple-ply bodies the fault is frequently accentuated by slippage between the body layers with resultant distortion of the shape of the shielding recess and increased imposition of shoe pressure on the sensitive parts which the pad was intended to shield. Also, where the pad presents a vertical raw-cut edge exposing thin lines ofthe adhesive material, the oozing out of adhesive, or the starting of any slip between pad layers, often impregnates a spot on the stocking with the adhesive material so that the rubbing and pressure of the shoe, applied through the sticky stocking, destroys all the more rapidly the usefulness of the pad for 40 protective purposes.

In general, the objects of my invention are to provide a shielding pad construction of the adhesively-joined, multi-ply fabric type above referred to, which substantially obviates or greatly lessens the drawbacks and disadvantages heretofore common in pads of that type, which insures distribution of the shoe pressure in walking to give greater comfort to the wearer, and to secure in the pad itself a greater resistance to deterioration or (otherwise stated) longer useful life.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a shielding pad embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pad with its top section or cover layer partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a pad of modified construction; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View thereof with parts broken away.

In Figs. 1 to 3, the pad is shown as of threelayer construction, It indicating the base. layer, H a superimposed, shorter shim-layer which, together with layer Iii, makes up the body or lower section of the pad, and I2 indicates the cover layer or top section thereof, each layer being made of cotton fabric which is coated on its under side with a film of adhesive material, as indicated respectively at w H and H As here shown, the shim-layer II is set well back from one end of the lower layer It so that it presents a straight edge 13 crossing the pad, as shown in Fig. 3. The bottom layer Ill and shim-layer II are both cut away (preferably after assembly in adhering relation) to define a recess-aperture l4 approximately half of the length whereof is cut through the two layers and half through the single bottom layer.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the fabric of each of the three layers is of uniform thckness, so that when the cover piece I2 is adheringly affixed to the exposed upper surfaces of layers Ill and II, the cover layer presents a shoulder or step effect as indicated at it, where it leads down from the short layer H to the full length bottom layer Ill.

The pad herein shown is intended to be placed on the wearers foot with its thin end or toe forward in order that, in the slipping forward of the foot relative to the shoe in walking, the heel or thicker portion of the pad may distribute a very substantial portion of the shoe pressure over an area of the footin rear of the sensitive spot which is being shielded within the recess. I find it to be desirable in this regard to make the heel of the pad both wider and longer than the toe portion, and to this end I make the bottom layer l0 somewhat egg-shaped and locate the recess l4 considerably forward of its center.

For best embodiment of my invention, it is desirable that the shim-layer H shall be shaped similarly to but shall be smaller than the heel portion of the base layer l0, so as to leave a sub- I stantial rim' Hl of the base layer projecting beyond its side and rear edges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Complementally, the cover [2 is of suitable size and outline to provide a marginal extension a little wider at every point than the depth of the layer or layers below, such extension forming, in the completed article, a protective skirt l2 which envelops the perimetral walls of the pad body, extends substantially to the bottom level thereof, and adheres to the edge of the base layer.

This arrangement of the skirt, in relation to the set-back arrangement of the intermediate layer or shim I I on the base layer, gives something of a beveled effect to the portions l2 and it of the pad which otherwise would present abrupt, rawcut edges and I find this construction to be of substantial advantage in furthering most comfortable distribution of shoe pressure and avoiding distortion of the pad or creeping of its upper layers, in use.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, two shim-layers ll and II" are used, each smaller than the subjacent layer of the pad and set back with respect to the perimetral margin of the subjacent layer, so as to further the beveled-edge effect of the cover piece and to augment the heelward pressure-distribution; each such layer ii and l l" preferably having its inner edge shaped to protrude somewhat over the recess-bordering wall-portion of the layer below it so that the heelward end of the shielding recess is of graduated depth in both its length and width.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, an adhesive pad for use on the human foot, which is composed wholly of superimposed layers of fabric each whereof is of uniform thickness and has its underside coated throughout with adhesive, and which comprises, in construction, not less than three layers, these including: an ovate base layer apertured to receive a corn or the like; an imperforate cover layer similar to plan contour to but larger in area than said base layer to provide a marginal skirt; and at least one intermediate layer having at least its sides and one end similar in plan contour to but smaller in area than the corresponding portions of the base layer and having a portion cut away above at least a portion of said base layer; said intermediate layer adhesively engaging the base layer and leaving a portion of the upper surface of the latter exposed all around said intermediate layer, and said cover layer adhesively engaging said intermediate layer and also engaging exposed portions of the base layer beyond the edges of said intermediate layer.

2. As an article of manufacture, a protective pad for use on the human foot composed of superimposed layers of fabric each whereof is of uniform thickness throughout and has its underside coated throughout with adhesive; and which comprises, in combination, a base layer having an aperture to receive a corn or the like; a U-shaped shim-structure adhesively mounted on the base layer with its outer side-edges and closed-end edge substantially conforming to the plan contour of but wholly located inwardly from the edge of the base layer, and with its inner edges overhanging one end and part of the sides of said aperture in the body layer; and an imperiorate cover piece larger in area than the base layer adhesively engaging the upper surface of said shim structure and also portions of the base layer that extend beyond the shim-structure.

3. As an article of manufacture, a pad of the character described, comprising in combination not less than three layers of fabric, each of substantially uniform thickness and adhesive-coated throughout its underside; these including an eggshaped base layer having its toe end narrower than its heel end and having a corn-recess aperture therethrough the length whereof lies chiefly in the toe end of said layer; a shorter shim-layer adheringly mounted on said base layer and set back from the toe end thereof and cut away conformably with the heel end of said recess-aperture to thicken the heel portion of the pad and the heel end of the aperture walls; an imperiorate cover layer larger in area than the base layer adheringly mounted on the top surfaces of said shim layer and the toe portion of the base layer, and having a marginal skirt extending below the adhesion level of the shim layer to the base layer and marginally adhering to the base layer.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL. 

